Bob Wilber and the Bechet Legacy

Throughout his long career, clarinetist and saxophonist Bob Wilber worked to keep classic swing and pre-bop jazz alive. Influenced by Sidney Bechet, Benny Goodman, and Johnny Hodges, Wilber developed his own distinctive sound, one he first showcased in the '40s and '50s with his Wildcats, and later on albums like 1960's Blowin' the Blues Away and 1974's Soprano Summit featuring Kenny Davern (with whom he would work often). He garnered the respect of veteran performers, working with legends like Wild Bill Davison, Muggsy Spanier, Pee Wee Russell, George Wettling, and others. He...